Andrei Kuzmenko takes leave from Pittsburgh Penguins after his father’s death

Andrei Kuzmenko has taken a temporary leave from the Pittsburgh Penguins to deal with his family’s grief following the death of his father, Alexander. The 30-year-old forward practiced with the team on Thursday before traveling to Moscow to join his relatives.

According to the NHL, Alexander Kuzmenko was attacked by a bear during a fishing trip in the Republic of Tuva in southern Siberia. According to the Russian outlet Ren.tv, the 62-year-old suffered severe head tissue damage from the bite; his travel companions managed to drive the bear away and take him to a nearby settlement, after which he was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Kyzyl but did not survive.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said the organization was deeply saddened by the news and that their thoughts were with the Kuzmenko family. He asked for the privacy of Andrei and his relatives to be respected while the club offers its full support during this difficult period. According to Dubas, Kuzmenko preferred to stay close to his teammates and practiced with the team before leaving for Moscow.

Kuzmenko signed a one-year contract worth $5 million with the Penguins on July 1. Last season, he recorded 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games with the Los Angeles Kings and underwent surgery in February to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. In his NHL career so far, he has 182 points (85 goals, 97 assists) in 271 regular-season games for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Kings, as well as 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 7 playoff games.

Source: NHL.